I took some photographs in the old graveyard in Clifden on Friday which I had a look at over the week end. I wanted to use them for a painting, but not too literally. I decided to focus on the trees and woodland floor and omit the gravestones and the old church ruin. Perhaps I will include them in another image but this time I wanted to focus on the upward reach of the trees, from the richness of the earth and the woodland floor right up in to the light and the sky.
I chose this photograph, not because it is a good photo in its own right, but because of the arrangement of the trees and because it could be a woodland anywhere and not necessarily part of a graveyard in the middle of town. Here's the first sketch below. I used acrylic paint, charcoal and a little oil pastel.
The bluebells are suggested with some blue paint in the lower part of the piece.
I turned the page around for this one, to emphasize the length of these spindly trees.
Hi Debbie,
ReplyDeleteWe both have wonderful husbands
Meg
Hi Debbie,
ReplyDeletethat was David of course.
Beautiful pictures, both of them, but I do like the elongated one. Think that very successfully brings out the feeling of height and I do prefer that picture. However I have just surveyed some loose children who wandered into the room and they all prefer the landscape one!
It's amazing how much more beautiful the paintings are than the photographs. Love how you have captured the exact time of year, the vibrancy of green but yet no leaves on the big trees yet and they are still stark and black against the sky.
Now I have worked out how to reply to blog! will send some comments to earlier ones if it's not too late.
Thanks Meg, your comments are greatly appreciated! I sent you an email earlier. Will be in touch X
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